Ghost Nets in the Gulf

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing nets or gear (collectively known as ghost nets or ghost gear) are devastating marine life globally by trapping, entangling and drowning marine mammals, turtles and seabirds.

Gulf Savannah NRM’s Sarah Reynolds and Taylor Taylor took a trip to Karumba to help remove marine debris from the southern Gulf of Carpentaria.

Bleary-eyed and determined not to hit the snooze button again, eleven dedicated conservationists began the first of two days on an assignment to clean up discarded crab pots and other abandoned fishing gear from sections of the Norman River and out into the Gulf.

The clean-up team were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise before the hard work of dragging nets and other rubbish on board began.

‘It was a great group to be part of, with representatives from OceanEarth Foundation and OzFish members and volunteers,’ said Taylor, who also caught a beautiful queen fish during some well-earned down time.

‘We recovered crab pots, nets, rope, buckets and even an Esky.’

‘As well as the impact ghost gear is having on marine life, it’s also dangerous for boats if it gets caught in a motor,’ said Sarah.

The clean-up days were part of OzFish’s Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery initiative, run in partnership with OceanEarth Foundation’s GhostNets Australia program. This specific project aims to remove recreational fishing gear from the southern Gulf of Carpentaria – and although some of the crab pots may be lost locally, most of the marine debris accumulating here has been on a much longer journey.

The Gulf’s ecosystem, a haven for endangered marine species, including six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, dugongs and sawfish, is also a global hotspot for ghost nets.

These nets drift on currents and continue to entangle marine life year after year. Turtles appear to be the most at risk, with a study showing they account for 80% of marine life caught, and often killed, by ghost nets.

Read the full article in the Gulf Croaker:

Scroll to Top